This webpage is intended to collect and track relevant changes to U.S. immigration in 2025 and beyond. This will provide international students and scholars with one place to review information that may impact them. We anticipate that there will be many changes and that they will be rolled out quickly.
This webpage is divided into three sections, tracking which are pending, in effect, or dismissed. Each accordion title bears the official name of the Executive Order, final rule, guidance, or memorandum and the date it was published. These titles reflect the current U.S. government's terminology, which sometimes includes the term "alien".
Pending
These Executive Orders, Presidential Proclamations, Rules, and memorandum are not yet in effect, either because their effective date is in the future, or because they are the subject of litigation and there is a court-ordered injunction.
- Date Published: March 12, 2025
- Date Effective: April 11, 2025
- Comments Due: May 12, 2025
- Link to Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/12/2025-03944/alien-registration-form-and-evidence-of-registration
- Summary: While "registration" may be a new term, most international students, scholars, and dependents comply with the registration requirements when they apply for and receive a visa, and complete the requirement when they enter the United States. The USCIS Alien Registration webpage provides information on who is registered, who needs to register, and instructions on how to register. Everyone over 18 years old must carry their evidence of registration with them while in the United States. See Identification Documents on our website.
- Dependent Children: Our current understanding is that children under the age of 14 are in compliance with the registration requirement with their I-94. However, it is possible that parents may need to register their dependent children under 14 years old before April 11, 2025. We will update this website once the instruction clear. If a dependent child turned 14 years old after their most recent entry into the United States, they must re-register before April 11, 2025. See the USCIS website for instructions. After April 11, 2025, if a dependent child turns 14 years old while inside the United States, they must re-register in person within 30 days of their birthday so that they can be fingerprinted.
- Home Address Reporting: International students, scholars, and dependents must notify DHS within 10 days of a change to their home address. Fs and J fulfill this requirement by reporting home address changes on access.caltech or to the JPL International Office. Everyone else should use a USCIS Online Account or Form AR-11 to update DHS.
- Impact: Failure to register, to carry documents, or to update a change of address may result in a fine or imprisonment. If a failure to update a change of address is not reasonably excusable or is determined to be willful, it may also lead to deportation.
- Date Published: March 5, 2025
- Date Effective: TBD
- Public Comments Due: May 5, 2025
- Link to Federal Register: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-03-05/pdf/2025-03492.pdf
- Summary: In connection with Executive Order 14161, ‘‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,'' USCIS is proposing to collect social media identifiers (‘‘handles'') and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, vetting, and related inspections. Among the forms listed by USCIS are I-485, I-131, and I-751.
- Date Published: January 20, 2025
- Date Effective: January 20, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/
- Litigation:
Background NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/21/g-s1-44023/trump-birthright-citizenship-immigration-order-14th-amendment - State of Washington... v. Trump, filed by four states' Attorneys General, consolidated with Aleman v. Trump: https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/Birthright%20Citizenship%20complaint.pdf
Current status: On January 23, 2025, a U.S. District Court judge in Seattle issued a temporary, 14-day restraining order. - Casa Inc. et al v. Trump: https://wearecasa.org/pregnant-moms-asap-casa-sue-trump-protect-birthright-citizenship/
Current status: On February 5, 2025, a U.S. District Court judge in Maryland, issued a nationwide preliminary injunction. This should remain in effect indefinitely until either the court determines the legality of the Executive Order, or unless and until a higher court overturns the injunction. While the injunction remains in place, the U.S. government is fully enjoined (stopped) from enforcing or implementing the Executive Order. - State of New Jersey... v. Trump, filed by eighteen states' Attorneys General, including California, consolidated with O. Doe v. Trump: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/2025%200121%20Complaint.pdf
- New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump, filed by the ACLU :https://www.aclu.org/cases/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-donald-j-trump?document=Complaint
- Date Published: February 25, 2025
- Date Effective: February 25, 2025 (procedure still to be announced)
- Link to USCIS Announcement: https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration
- Impact: Most international students and scholars will have registered when they receive a visa or are admitted into the United States. If a dependent enters the United States prior to age 14, they will need to register within 30 days of their 14th birthday. Individuals with DACA or TPS may need to register.
- Date Published: February 24, 2025
- Date Effective: February 24, 2025
- Link to Dept. of State Cable: Unavailable
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/
- Background article: https://www.seyfarth.com/news-insights/new-visa-restrictions-target-transgender-athletes-raising-title-ix-and-compliance-concerns-for-colleges.html
- Impact: Consular officers may deny visas based on reasonable suspicion of any visa applicant's transgender identity, specifically if an applicant's sex listed on a visa application does not match their sex assigned at birth.
- Date Published: February 12, 2025
- Date Effective: February 12, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/one-voice-for-americas-foreign-relations/
- Impact: In order to implement reforms, the Dept. of State will revise or replace the Foreign Affairs Manual and will direct subordinate agencies to remove, amend, or replace any handbooks, procedures, or guidance.
- Date Published: January 29, 2025
- Date Effective: January 29, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism/
- Impact: Higher Ed Institutions may be asked to monitor and report relevant international students and scholar activities.
- Date Published: January 23, 2025
- Date Effective: January 23, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/removing-barriers-to-american-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence/
- Impact: It is unclear how this Executive Order will impact certain O-1, EB-1, and EB-2 policies
- Date Published: January 20, 2025
- Date Effective: January 20, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-othernational-security-and-public-safety-threats/
- Litigation:
- Date Published: January 20, 2025
- Date Effective: January 20, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/america-first-policy-directive-to-the-secretary-of-state/
- Date Published: January 20, 2025
- Date Effective: January 20, 2025
- Link to Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions/
- Includes the withdrawal of Executive Order 14012 of February 2, 2021 Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, which was the basis for many USCIS changes and updates in 2021-2024, including the H-1B Modernization Rule above.
- Includes the withdrawal of Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, which was the basis for many USCIS updates to O-1, EB-1, and EB-2 policies.
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment that DACA is unlawful. However, its order is limited to Texas only. https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-40653-CV0.pdf. Current DACA participants in other states may continue to apply for extensions of work authorization.
- Date Published: December 18, 2024
- Date Effective: January 17, 2025
- Link to Final Rule in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/18/2024-29354/modernizing-h-1b-requirements-providing-flexibility-in-the-f-1-program-and-program-improvements
- Litigation: None
- Date Published: December 13, 2024
- Date Effective: January 13, 2025
- Link to Final Rule in Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/13/2024-28584/increase-of-the-automatic-extension-period-of-employment-authorization-and-documentation-for-certain
- Litigation: None
- Summary: The validity period of pending EAD extensions for certain EAD categories will be extended for up to 540 days, depending on the category. This includes C09, A12, C19, and C26.
- Date Published:
- Date Dismissed:
- Link to Federal Register:
- Litigation: